On June 29, 2012, the [http://www.justice.gov/ Department of Justice] filed a suit in federal court against the state of [[Georgia]], alleging that service members, their family members and overseas civilian voters won’t have time to vote by absentee ballot in runoff elections, if they are required.<ref name="lawsuit">[http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/06/military-justice-sues-georgia-over-voting-delays-062912w/ ''Marine Corps Times'', "Justice sues Georgia over voting deadlines" Accessed July 24, 2012]</ref> According to the [http://www.fvap.gov/reference/laws/uocava.html Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act] (UOCAVA), states must transmit all validly requested ballots to UOCAVA voters at least 45 days before an election, unless a hardship exemption is obtained, for which [[Georgia]] failed to file.<ref name="lawsuit"/> However, this conflicts with the timeline for runoff elections, in which the primary runoff, by law, must be held 21 days after the regular or special primary election, and if a runoff is required after the Nov. 6 general election, it will be held 28 days later, on Dec. 4, which also wouldn’t provide the required 45 days.<ref name="lawsuit"/>

+

On June 29, 2012, the [http://www.justice.gov/ Department of Justice] filed a suit in federal court against the state of [[Georgia]], alleging that service members, their family members and overseas civilian voters won’t have time to vote by absentee ballot in runoff elections, if they are required.<ref name="lawsuit">[http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/06/military-justice-sues-georgia-over-voting-delays-062912w/ ''Marine Corps Times'', "Justice sues Georgia over voting deadlines" accessed July 24, 2012]</ref> According to the [http://www.fvap.gov/reference/laws/uocava.html Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act] (UOCAVA), states must transmit all validly requested ballots to UOCAVA voters at least 45 days before an election, unless a hardship exemption is obtained, for which [[Georgia]] failed to file.<ref name="lawsuit"/> However, this conflicts with the timeline for runoff elections, in which the primary runoff, by law, must be held 21 days after the regular or special primary election, and if a runoff is required after the Nov. 6 general election, it will be held 28 days later, on Dec. 4, which also wouldn’t provide the required 45 days.<ref name="lawsuit"/>

As part of the lawsuit, the [http://www.justice.gov/ Department of Justice] is asking [[Georgia]] to "extend the ballot receipt deadline to Aug. 31 for these voters, to send ballots by express delivery as soon as possible before the Aug. 21 runoff election, and inform UOCAVA voters no later than July 7 of their right to request a state write-in absentee ballot or their official absentee ballot for any runoff election by downloading it from the Internet, by email, or by fax."<ref name="lawsuit"/>

As part of the lawsuit, the [http://www.justice.gov/ Department of Justice] is asking [[Georgia]] to "extend the ballot receipt deadline to Aug. 31 for these voters, to send ballots by express delivery as soon as possible before the Aug. 21 runoff election, and inform UOCAVA voters no later than July 7 of their right to request a state write-in absentee ballot or their official absentee ballot for any runoff election by downloading it from the Internet, by email, or by fax."<ref name="lawsuit"/>

Revision as of 01:58, 25 June 2014

Note: Election information listed on this page does not pertain to 2012 presidential elections. For more about Ballotpedia's areas of coverage, click here.

The dates focus primarily on primary dates for non-presidential elections. Specifically, the primary dates below refer to when candidates are on the ballot for Congressional, State Executive, State Legislative and other down-ballot issues.

The table below contains the following information:

Primary date

Type of primary

Deadline for voters to register to vote

Other notes

State-by-state breakdown

All 50 states were broken into three different groups by type of primary:

New Hampshire: Registered Democrats and Republicans can only vote for their own party in the primary but Independent voters may decide which party they would like to vote for. Unregistered voters can register on election day.

Ohio: Must vote in the primary of same party as the voter participated in last primary election. Loosely enforced. However, if a voter wishes to vote in another party's primary, he or she must register with that party in order to vote.

Rhode Island: If you are registered as "unaffiliated" you may vote in the primary of any party you choose. Once you vote in a primary, however, you are considered a member of that party until and unless you "disaffiliate."

Closed primary system. However, Idaho law allows the political parties the option of opening their primary to "unaffiliated" voters. In 2012, the Democratic Party opened its primary to unaffiliated voters while the GOP kept its primary closed. Decisions to do so must be made at least 6 months prior to the election.

Parties can choose to open primaries but both Democrats and Republicans chose not to. If a voter does not choose a party, he or she will be recorded as "unaffiliated" and is only permitted to vote in the primary election if a party chooses to open its primary.

Registered Democrats and Republicans can only vote for their own party in the primary but independent voters may decide which party they would like to vote for. Unregistered voters can register on election day.

Registered Democrats and Republicans can only vote for their own party in the primary. Any NJ voter who has never on a previous occasion voted in a NJ primary election may declare a party affiliation at the poll. Independents may also decide which party to vote for.

Must vote in the primary of same party as the voter participated in last primary election. Loosely enforced. However, if a voter wishes to vote in another party's primary, he or she must register with that party in order to vote.

If you are registered as "unaffiliated" you may vote in the primary of any party you choose. Once you vote in a primary, however, you are considered a member of that party until and unless you "disaffiliate."

Issues

2012

Department of Justice sues Georgia over voting deadlines

On June 29, 2012, the Department of Justice filed a suit in federal court against the state of Georgia, alleging that service members, their family members and overseas civilian voters won’t have time to vote by absentee ballot in runoff elections, if they are required.[54] According to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), states must transmit all validly requested ballots to UOCAVA voters at least 45 days before an election, unless a hardship exemption is obtained, for which Georgia failed to file.[54] However, this conflicts with the timeline for runoff elections, in which the primary runoff, by law, must be held 21 days after the regular or special primary election, and if a runoff is required after the Nov. 6 general election, it will be held 28 days later, on Dec. 4, which also wouldn’t provide the required 45 days.[54]

As part of the lawsuit, the Department of Justice is asking Georgia to "extend the ballot receipt deadline to Aug. 31 for these voters, to send ballots by express delivery as soon as possible before the Aug. 21 runoff election, and inform UOCAVA voters no later than July 7 of their right to request a state write-in absentee ballot or their official absentee ballot for any runoff election by downloading it from the Internet, by email, or by fax."[54]